110 
THE COTTAGE GABDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 16, 1858. 
Geese ; and if you match in colour, and select aright in sex, you 
will win, if yours are the heaviest birds. 
Weight is most important in Aylesbury Ducks; but fatness 
must not interfere with symmetry ; nor will the greatest weight 
ever attained do away with the effect of a yellow or a dark bill. 
Choose your Rouens as large as you can ; but recollect that in 
colour of plumage, and in bills, they must be the counterparts of 
Wild Ducks. Leaden bills for ducks, or orange for drakes, will be 
fatal to success. 
The Buenos Ayrean should be entirely black, with a rich green 
metallic lustre. They cannot be too small. 
X.—We have thus done your bidding, and hope you will not 
find it so tiresome to read as we have to write. 
EXHIBITION OF CAN ABIES AND OTHER 
CAGE-BIRDS AT THE MECHANICS’ HALL, 
DERBY. 
The first public exhibition of Canaries and other birds took 
place on Saturday, the 6th inst., in one of the rooms of the 
Mechanics’-hall, Derby, under the most favourable, and, to the 
promoters of the show, gratifying circumstances. The day was 
fine, and the temperature of the atmosphere somewhat suitable 
for the birds, which were “ feathered ” to the greatest advantage, 
except in a few instances, where they had not entirely passed 
through their moulting. 
The show was visited by many of the nobility, clergy, and 
gentry of the town and country, and parties were in attendance to 
explain to them the various breeds and nature of the birds, and 
likewise to attend to those persons who were desirous of purchas¬ 
ing. The stages on which the birds were placed were covered 
with pink glazed calico, and in the centre of the principal stage 
was an artistically designed crown and cushion, from the corners 
of which were suspended four small flags of different nations. 
The design was by Mr. Walker of Derby. Sir John Harpur 
Crewe, Bart., and Lady Crewe, of Calke Abbey, were amongst 
the morning visitors, and were large purchasers of the Gold 
and Silver-spangled Lizards, belonging to Mr. Ufton, and Mr. 
Barnesby, Derby, and, also, two beautiful specimens of Cinnamon 
and Buff Canaries of Mr. C. F. S. Smith, Derby, and Mr. Wood, 
Little Chester. Mrs. Sutton, of Shardlow, also purchased a pair 
of exceedingly fine Yellow Belgians, of Mr. Wood, and a beautiful 
Silver-spangled Lizard, of Mr. Barnesby. Several other sales of 
single birds were made. 
At half-past one o’clock, so considerable was the interest attached 
to the show, that the room, although large, proved too small for 
the occasion ; for the visitors arrived in such numbers from this 
time until the hour of closing, that it was impossible for all persons 
to gratify themselves as they wished, in examining the birds. The 
room was well-adapted in many respects, but unfortunately there was 
scarcely sufficient light on one side of the centre stage, and owing 
to this the hidden beauties of many birds were not seen to ad¬ 
vantage. With this exception, the arrangements were admirable, 
and reflect the highest credit on the spirited promoters of this 
truly interesting exhibition. Owing to the extraordinary success 
which has attended then- first public show, the Committee intend 
next year to spare no pains in obviating any circumstances that 
have tended to mar the interest and pleasure of the visitors, and 
they also intend prizes to be given for general competition to birds 
of various classes and ages. 
The exhibition was not only good as regards the number of 
birds shown, but each class was well represented. The clear 
Yellow Belgian birds (which, for colour’, stand first in that breed) 
were perfect specimens, particularly the one which was awarded 
the first prize, it being a very fine bird, and “ well up” in most 
points. The one which obtained the second prize was well-bred, 
and belonged to Mr. Bunting. Four prizes were awarded to the 
clear Buff Belgians—the first being given to Mr. Orme, who like¬ 
wise took the first prize in clear yellows. In the class of Yellow 
Variegated Belgians, there were some beautiful birds, the first 
prize being awarded, and with justice, to Mr. Sowter. Seldom 
have been seen such superior specimens, and it required much 
nicety of judgment to decide on the purity of this breed. The 
Buff Variegated birds were also good, especially one belonging to 
Mr. Ufton, which stood first; but generally there was a deficiency 
of regularity in the variegation, which is a strong point in 
determining good birds. The colour was true, and, in other 
respects, they may be pronounced fair specimens. Two prizes 
were awarded for Golden-spangled Lizards, but those entered for 
competition were not entirely perfect birds. The Silver-spangled 
Lizards were first-class, with very slight difference between the 
two competing birds. Mr. Beales’ bird, however, had the most 
points, and was placed before that of Mr. Ufton’s. For Mealy 
Goldfinch Mules, Mr. E. Orme had no difficulty in carrying off 
the first prize: there were three competitors in this class. The 
total number of prizes awarded were twenty-two, and the birds 
exhibited amounted to nearly 300. Among the contributions to 
I the show were several handsome pure Yellow' and Buff Belgians, 
| belonging to Mr. Orme; Gold and Silver-spangled Lizards, of 
Messrs. Barnesby and Ufton ; Cinnamon and Buff birds, of Mr. 
C. F. S. Smith, of Derby, and also of Mr. Wood, Little Chester; 
Jonque Goldfinch Mule, of Mr. Boden; Mealy ditto, of Mr. 
Coxon; Norwich Canary, of Mr. Orme; a fine Mealy Linnet 
Mule, of Mr. J. Pym, Forester Street, who also contributed other 
birds, besides sending a case of foreign stuffed birds, and a picture 
of Wild Ducks, of Mr. Pym’s painting. The Bullfinch, Gold¬ 
finch, Linnet, Thrush, and Australian Parroquet tribes were each 
represented. A number of birdcages were sent to the exhibition 
by Messrs. Torr and Wallace. 
After the show, and the birds and other articles had been sent 
away, the members and their friends partook of an excellent and 
well-served supper, at Mr. Ortne’s, the Prince Albert, Burton 
Road, where the Society holds its meetings, and where any person 
desirous may join the club, which numbers about forty members. 
Mr. Brodie occupied the chair, and Mr. Stoddart the vice-chair. 
After the cloth had been drawn, and the healths of “ the Queen,” 
“ Prince Albert, and the rest of the Royal Family,” “ the Mayor 
and Magistrates of the borough,” &c., had been given, the health 
of “ the Judge of the Bird Show” (Mr. T. Mason, Nottingham), 
was proposed by Mr. G. J. Barnesby, who, on behalf of tlie 
Society, presented to Mr. Mason a beautiful silver snuff-box, 
bearing an appropriate inscription, as a mark of esteem for his 
gratuitous services on several occasions. Mr. Mason acknow¬ 
ledged the present. Other toasts followed, including “ the 
Visitors to the Exhibition,” “ the Secretary” (Mr. Ripley), “the 
Stewards” (coupling with the toast Messrs. Wood and Orme), 
“the Committee, and Messrs. Potter and Brodie,” “the Press,” 
and thanks to the Derby Mercury and Reporter papers for assist¬ 
ance rendered ; the next toast proposed was “ the Nottingham 
Canary Fanciers,” to which were added the names of Messrs. J. 
Etherington and Mason, after which the company departed, 
amply gratified with the whole proceedings. 
The following is the award of prizes :— 
Clear Yellow Belgians. —First, Mr. Orme. Second, Mr. Bunting. 
Third, Mr. H. Thompson. 
Clear Buff Belgians.— First, Mr. Orme. Second, Mr. Barnes. Third, 
Mr. Joseph Spencer. Fourth, Mr. Bunting. 
Yellow Variegated Belgians.— First, Mr. Sowter. Second, Mr. Orme. 
Third, Mr. Thompson. Fourth, Mr. Brodie. 
Buff Variegated Belgians. —First, Mr. Ufton. Second, Mr. John 
Spencer. Third, Mr. Carrington. Fourth, Mr. Orme. 
Golden-spangled Lizards. —First, Mr. Ufton. Second, Mr. Wood. 
Silver-spanglnd Lizards.— First, Mr. Beales. Second, Mr. Ufton. 
Mealy Goldfinch Mules.— First, Mr. E. Orme. Second, Mr. H. More- 
ton. Third, Mr. Barnes. 
Judge—M r. T. Mason, Nottingham .—(Contributed by Geo. 
J. Barnesby, Derby). 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Wing of the Brown-breasted Red Game. —“ Will you state whether 
a Brown-breasted Red Game cock ought to have the ends of each wing 
tipped with green or bay ? Do broken spurs disqualify ? ”—J. W. 
[The wing tips may be either colour, but we prefer green ; it is not ma¬ 
terial. Broken spurs do not disqualify : they are hardly a disadvantage.] 
LONDON MARKETS.— November 15th. 
POULTRY. 
The trade has been very dull during the past week, and our former 
quotations have not been maintained. We have seldom seen the demand 
for good poultry so small at this season of the year. 
Each. 
Large Fowls ... 
.. 4.9. Od. to 4s. 6(7. 
Hares. 
... 2s. 
€hI. to 2s. 9 d 
Small ditto. 
..2 6 
,,3 0 
Partridges. 
.... o 
8 
„ 1 0 
Chickens. 
.. 1 9 
„ 2 0 
Grouse. 
.... 1 
9 
„ 2 0 
Geese . 
..6 0 
„ 6 6 
Pigeons . 
... 0 
7 
„ 0 8 
Ducks . 
..2 6 
„ 2 9 
Ptabbits . 
... 1 
3 
„ 1 4 
Pheasants . 
„ 0 0 
Wild ditto. 
... 0 
8 
„ 0 9 
Each. 
